Piano-action



' (No Model.)

s. R. PERRY.

PIANO. ACTION.

No. 468,918. Patented Feb. 16, 1892.

EDGE ws w.

END.

510E vl'sw.

WITNESSES,

INVENTOR.

Cog

the flange c.

, 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL R. PERRY, OF SORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,918, dated February 16, 1892.

Application filed April 17, 1891. Serial No. 389,316. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. PERRY, a

resident of Scranton; in the county of Lacka-' actions; and it consists of certain novel con-4 structions and combinations of parts so arranged and adapted to produce a more rapid stroke against the strings and the speedy return of the hammer to rest when the stroke is made. 7

It consists, also, in the novel construction of the flanges supporting the various levers, and the construction of springs so arranged as to bear against the parts with the least possible friction when operated.

It consists, also, of a divided actuating-lever so arranged that its parts may move together as one lever or may separate and move independently of each other to a desired extent.

It also consists of a novel means of regulating the action and keys and the construction and application of dampers; also, the construction of hammer-butts and reacting springs for the same.

These various improvements, with slight modifications, will also apply to grand or square pianos. j

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an upright action, showing certain novel features. Fig. 2 is a form of Fig. 1, changing the position of the rail and buffer which unlocks the links. Fig. 3 isa side view of a divided actuating-lever; Fig. 4., a side, edge, and end view of a tongue or flange. Fig. 5 shows a round flange. Fig. 6 shows a side view of hammer-butt and the method of attaching the long link, also a novel method of inserting a reacting-spring for the hammer. Fig. 7 is a novel method 0t" securing the damper-blocks to the damper-levers.

In constructing my invention I employ the actuating-lever a, also, by preference, the divided lever, as shown by Fig. 3, (which will be fully described farther on,) which lever a is connected to the action-rail b by means of On the upper side of lever 11 is rigidly secured a flange d, to which the short link e is attached, which in turn is joined to the long link 6. This long link in turn is hinged to the hammer-butt D by means of cloth or other flexible material placed into slots out into the link and hammer-butt. The hammer -butt I) and damper-lever K are hinged to the flange A, said flange resting in a groove formed across the rail and provided with a pin L, (see Fig. 4.), passing through it at or near its center. The pin, resting in a longitudinal slot formed in the rail, secures the flange in place, and the longitudinal cap B, resting on the flanges in rotation, firmly secures them to the rail by means of screws. The pin L may be inserted into single flanges, as shown at c, in the same manner and for the same purpose. The cap may extend the whole length of the action-rail, or it may for convenience be placed thereon in sections. The spring J is fastened to the under side of the flange and, passing around the end of said flange and through the hammer-butt, is allowed to rest against the inner side ofthe hammer-butt. When the hammer is thrown against the string, the spring J tends to prevent the hammer from resting on the string after the stroke is made. The damper-lever K is held against the string by a spring J, fastened to the under side of the flange, passing around the end of the flange and through the damper-lever, and resting against the upper side of the damper-lever. By this method of securing the hammer and damper-springs it will be seen that a sufficient length of wire will be had to make the springs as flexible as need be without coiling.

To the actuating-lever a is rigidly attached a post a, which is slotted on its inner surface, thereby forming a tongue a upon which a cushion is placed and against which the long link 6 is required to rest. By means of the screw 0. the tongue is made adjustable, so that any required angle of the long and short links may be secured. The same result may be effected by means of a screw and buffer passing through the post and regulating the links.

To the lower edge of the action-rail I attach a spring g, which acts against the long link 9, pressing said link against the tongue on post a. Passing through the long link e is a screw and buffer e which are intended to regulate the position of the long link and hold it whenforced against the action-rail cushion Z) at the termination of each stroke,

thus forming the back-check to hold the hammer 1" rom reacting against the string. The long link 6 is provided with an arm orprojection c, said arm being cushioned on its upper surface to come in contact with the regulating-screw and butter II. hen this arm strikes the butter II, it will throw the long and short link connection over and beyond the alignment of its pivots and thus unlock the hammer at or near the end of the stroke and immediately hold the buffer 6 against the action-rail cushion b.

In Fig. 2 the buffer N and rail K are placed in such a position and the long link e so formed as to allowit to slide against the buti'er. The spring J Fig. 1, is placed to press upon the actuating-lever, so as to weight the same and secure rapid movement.

Fig. 3 represents my improved actuatinglever, in which 0 is the bottom part and O aseparate lever attached by a pivot 0 the pivot P being used to secure the lever to the other parts of the action. 0 is a cushion allowing the two levers to strike when in motion without noise.

The object of constructing the actuatinglever O of two parts is as follows: When the hammer-rail R (shown in Fig. 1) is thrown forward and held in any position to shorten the hammers stroke and thereby soften the tone, it will carry up the lever 0 Fig. 3, and hold it in any desired'position without materially changing the relation of the keys or the lower part of the actuating-lever 0. Hence, as the lower part of the actuating-lever does not move unless pressed by the key, the dampers K, as shown in Fig. 1, will not be drawn away from the string T, thus allowing the hammer to be close to the strings in playing the instrument, at the same time allowing the dampers to perform their functions.

On the bottom of the pitman-rod 1 Fig. 1, is a regulating device of a novel construction, which consists of a slotted lever Z, which is attached to a railW by means of the flange V. Through the upper portion of the lever Z and arm Xpasses a regulating-screw Y, by means of which a nice adjustment of the action is made upon the keys and may be used for changing the dip of the keys with ease and precision.

Fig.6 shows anovel and preferable method of attaching the long link e to the hammerbutt D. The long link 6' being slotted at its upper end and the hammerbutt having an opening cut through it, (round or any other suitable shape,) a piece of cloth or other flexible material is then securely glued in such manner as to attach the long link and hammer-butt together. A thin strip E of brass or other material of sufficient flexibility is inserted between these clothed sides, allowing the loop-shaped upper end to act against the hammer-butt when its position is forced out of alignment with the clothed slot, which will take place as the hammer comes into close contact with the piano-string T, Fig. 1, and by which means this spring E will assist to force the hammer away from the string and prevent any rebound.

Fig. 7 shows a novel method of attaching the damper-wire to the block 70 and to tho damper-lever K, the wire 70 having a thread at one end to screw into the wooden damperlever K and an eye at the other end, through which a screw secures the wire to the block it. By this means the block may be turned into any angle or position required in relation to the piano-strings and is capable of being adjusted to the required height.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a piano-forte action, the long link 6', attached to the ham rner-butt D and having an arm 6, adapted to come in contact with the regulating-screw and buffer-II, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a piano-forte action, the short link 6, connected to the actuating-lever a by means of the flange (1, said short link in turn connected to the ham mer-butt D by means of the long link 6, said long link having a projecting arm 9 and regulating-screw and buffer a, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In a piano-forte action, the long link 6, provided with an arm e and carrying a regulating-screw and buffer e said buffer adapted to come in contact with the cushion Z) on the rail 1), as and for the purpose described.

4. In a piano-forte action, the actuating-la ver a, carrying a post a, said post provided with a regulating device for adjusting the angle formed by the link 6 and the short link 6 and supporting said links in position, as shown and described.

5. In a piano-forte action,tl1e flange A, having a pin L passing therethrough, said pin resting in a longitudinal slot formed in the action-rail 7), in the manner and for the purpose specified.

6. In a piano-forte action, the action-rail 1), having grooves cut across its surface at regular intervals, said grooves adapted to hold the flanges A, as shown and described.

7. In a piano-forte action, the flange A, having a pin passing therethrough, said pin resting in a longitudinal slot formed in the action-rail b, and the flange A held in place on the rail Z) by means of the cap B, as shown and described.

8. In a piano-forte action, the spring J, attached to the flange A, its loose end passing around the end of said flange and through the hammer-butt D and resting against the inner surface of the hammer-butt, as and for the purpose named.

9. In a piano-forte action, the spring J attached to thefiange A, passing around the end of said flange, and resting against the damper-lever K in the manner shown, and for the purpose named. 10. -In a piano-forte action, the spring J secured to the flange G, passing around said flange and through the actuatinglever a, and resting upon its upper surface, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

11. In apiano-forte action, the dampen-wire 70 formed into an eye at its upper end and having its lower end threaded and screwed into the end of the damper-lever K, said wire secured to the damper-block with a screw in the manner and as shown.

12. In a piano-forte action, the regulating device hinged to the rail W' and having a longitudinal slot forming the arms Z and X, the arm X provided with a regulating-screw Y and pivoted to the pitlnan or conneeting'rod y in the manner shown, and for the purpose named.

13. In a piano-forte action, the actuatinglever 0, made of two parts hinged together, with a cushion O interposed between said parts, in combination with the links, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

14. In a piano-forte action, the hammerbutt 1), formed with an opening f, said opening clothed and the cloth extending out of the hammer-butt and containing a flexible spring E, as shown, and for the purpose specified.

15. In a piano-forte action,the spring g, attached to the action-rail b and acting against the link 6 in the manner and for the purpose specified.

16. In a piano-forte action, the link e, provided with a slot and attached to the hammer-butt by means of a cloth hinge and spring E, as shown and specified.

17. In a piano-forte action, the links 6 and 6, connecting the hammer-butt and actuating-lever, the long link e carrying a regulating-screw and buffer e said butter adapted to come in contact with the cushion b on the rail 19, as shown, and for the purpose named.

18. In a piano-forte action, the links 6 and e, connecting the hammer-butt and actuating-lever, the long link 6' carrying a regulating-screw and buffer e said butter adapted to come in contact with the cushion b on the rail b, as shown, and for the purpose named. 19. In a piano-forte action, the links e and e, connecting the hammer-butt and actuat ing-lever, the long link e provided with an arm e adapted to come in contact with the regulating-screw and buffer H, as and for the purpose described.

- SAMUEL R. PERRY.

Witnesses:

W. S. DIEHL, W. W. WA'rsoN. 

